Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Georgia

by: Greg Campbell, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – The No. 9 Mississippi State baseball program will host its third top-25 opponent in four home weekends when No. 3 Georgia comes to Dudy Noble Field for a three-game series from April 26-28. The series begins with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on Friday night, before Saturday's Noon start will be shown on the SEC Network. Sunday's finale will begin at 1 p.m.

It is the first top-10 matchup at Dudy Noble Field since April 28-29, 2017, when No. 8 Mississippi State welcomed No. 5 Auburn to Starkville. The last top-5 team to enter Dudy Noble Field was Florida, who entered the last weekend of the 2018 regular season at the No. 1 team in the country, and the Bulldogs took all three games from the Gators in that series.

Gameday Info
Friday, April 12, 2019
Probable Starters
MSU: Ethan Small, LHP, R-Jr.
UGA: C.J. Smith, LHP, So.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2IHyIgO
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2IHy9Dy

Saturday, April 13, 2019
Probable Starters
MSU: JT Ginn, RHP, Fr.
UGA: Tony Locey, RHP, Jr.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2IHyMgy
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2IJAhee

Sunday, April 14, 2019
Probable Starters
MSU: TBA
UGA: TBA

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2IJrWqP
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2IMZsN1

Each contest can be heard on the Mississippi State Sports Network, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus.

Quick Hitters

With four weekends remaining in the regular season, Mississippi State is just two games out of first place in the West Division. Sitting at 10-8, State will play two teams that currently sit ahead in the division standings. MORE ON PAGE 9
Senior Jake Mangum enters the weekend just five hits shy of Eddie Furniss' Southeastern Conference record for career hits. His 348 hits lead all active Division I student-athletes. MORE ON PAGE 6-7
In 95 previous meetings, Georgia holds a slight one-game edge on Mississippi State, 48-47, on the all-time ledger. MORE ON PAGE 5
The 2019 edition of the Diamond Dawgs were the fastest to 30 wins in program history, doing so in 36 games. MORE ON PAGE 8
Mississippi State claimed its fourth-straight Governor's Cup with an 8-1 victory over Ole Miss on April 23 at Trustmark Park.
Fans have flooded the gates at Dudy Noble Field thus far in 2019, with six crowds of 10,000-plus through 26 home dates, which is already tied for the second-most in program history. MORE ON PAGE 8
Redshirt-junior Ethan Small ranks No. 2 nationally in strikeouts and enters week 11 atop the SEC charts with 103 Ks in 60 innings of work. MORE ON PAGE 9, 11 & 27
Head coach Chris Lemonis won his first four games as Mississippi State skipper. Lemonis is one of nine MSU head coaches to win his first career game and one of three to start 4-0 or better.
BIO ON PAGE 3, MORE ON PAGE 10

Series Notes
Georgia

Mississippi State and Georgia have met 95 times prior to this weekend's three-game series in Starkville, with Georgia owning a 48-47 edge on the all-time ledger.
The first meeting came between the two programs in 1915, with Georgia sweeping a two-game series in Athens.
The two teams did not meet during the 2018 season.
Mississippi State has the longest winning streak in the series, winning 10-straight games (1996-99).
Georgia's longest winning streak has been six, claiming those games between 2003-05.
In eight of State's last 10 home wins against Georgia, State has scored seven or more runs.
Over the last 10 games, Mississippi State is 7-3 against Georgia, including wins in the SEC Tournament at the 2014 and 2017 events.

Promotions
Friday: Commemorative Jeff Brantley baseballs will be available to the first 1,000 Fans, while live music will be in the Right Field Plaza prior to the game. The fourth Friday Night Fireworks presented by Marathon Petroleum will take place following the game.

Saturday: Live music in the Right Field Plaza prior to first pitch.

Sunday: Every Sunday is Kids Day at the Park, presented by Le Bohneur, with Kids Run the Bases Postgame (weather permitting).

The Drew Wilson 'Lil Dudes Zone located beyond the right field wall will be available when gates open, weather dependent.

For all regular season home games at Dudy Noble, MSU students will be admitted into the games for free with their student ID and Bully's Kids Club members will also receive free admission.

Fans can upgrade their game day experience with multiple options throughout the year from HailState.com/memories.

Dudy Noble Field Policies
Gates open two hours before first pitch on game day and the stadium gates will close one hour after the conclusion of each game. The right field terrace is a public, grill-free, first come first served area. Should fans wish to purchase ice at Dudy Noble, they will be able to do so behind the center field wall in the Left Field Lounge.

Approved coolers cannot exceed the maximum size of 10" by 10" by 10" after gates open, with coolers exceeding the restriction size prohibited. Other prohibited items include alcoholic beverages, smoking (in all areas), weapons, fireworks, electric power generators, pets, non-approved banners and signs, bicycles, any illegal substances, carts, wagons, wheeled supply carriers, personal tailgate tents (on concourse or lawn areas) and lawn chairs on sidewalks or concourse areas.

All bags are subject to search and security screening, along with items prohibited from being stored along stadium fencing and gates. MSU encourages fans to leave all unnecessary and prohibited items at home or in their vehicles to expedite security and screening procedures.

Tickets
Tickets for all of MSU's home games can be purchased through HailState.com/tickets.

Follow the Diamond Dawgs
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateBB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.".

Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Georgia

Next Event

Players Mentioned

JT Ginn

Jake Mangum

Ethan Small

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Georgia

Next Event

Players Mentioned

JT Ginn

Jake Mangum

Ethan Small

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